Curtis Gilmour Holding Acquires AgriSense Industrial Monitoring and Silvandersson AB

JACKSON, Ga. — Curtis Gilmour Holding Co. — whose interests include B&G Equipment Co. and Curtis Dyna-Fog — announced recent acquisitions of the industrial monitoring section of Suterra, which includes the AgriSense and Trappit trademarks, and Silvandersson AB.

In December, Suterra announced that Curtis Gilmour would acquire AgriSense Industrial Monitoring Ltd., which holds the assets, including the AgriSense and Trappit trademarks, employees and operations of Suterra’s UK facilities that manufacture and market pest monitoring products for the professional pest control and home and garden markets. The deal closed in January. In a press release, Suterra President Matthew Bohnert said Suterra will continue to accelerate its investment in agricultural control technologies, as well as pheromone-based control products for commercial markets.

Bohnert added that Suterra is very pleased to see the business acquired by Curtis Gilmour. “This transaction makes great strategic sense for both companies and will allow the customers to continue to receive the quality products they expect,” he said.

Silvandersson is a Sweden-based manufacturer of glue traps for flies, fleas, insects and other pests. Not included in the sale to Curtis Gilmour was Silvandersson’s Cryonite business, which was spun-off last year as a separate entity, Cryonite USA. Silvandersson will continue to market and sell the product outside the United States.

Cecil Patterson, president of B&G Equipment Co., Jackson, Ga., told PCT the AgriSense and Silvandersson acquisitions provide B&G with entry into the pheromone and sticky trap business, which B&G views as having great potential, especially in Europe. “Europe limits the use of pesticides so the pheromone and sticky trap business is quite strong there. Most of our efforts will be directed there,” he said.

B&G is known as a manufacturer of quality equipment — an image that B&G will continue to promote — but Patterson noted “as with many companies, we are looking at international opportunities and these were opportunities to help us expand in the European market.”

Patterson said that while it is too early to discuss definitive integration plans, at this point Silvandersson and AgriSense will continue to operate as stand-alone companies. — Brad Harbison

UPFDA Spring Conference Details Announced

BRASELTON, Ga. — The United Producers Formulators & Distributors Association encourages distributors, product suppliers and other industry stakeholders to register for the annual UPFDA Spring Conference, scheduled for April 26-28.

The event, being held at the J.W. Marriott Las Vegas Resort & Spa, will bring together representatives from across North America for sessions on the following topics: “The New Face of NPMA”; “Preparing Our Businesses for Future Success”; “Marketing to the Masses”; and “What You Need to Know About the Rapidly Changing Face of the Pest Control Marketplace.” Attendees can reserve their rooms at the J.W. Marriott Las Vegas Resort & Spa at 702/869-7777. The special room rate is $159. To register for the conference call Valera Jessee at 770/965-6972. Additional conference highlights include a welcome reception, a general membership meeting and a suppliers’ forum.

Speakers and sessions include:

• Dominique Stumpf, chief executive officer; and Alexis Wirtz, director, meetings and exhibits, NPMA, “The New Face of NPMA”
• Steve Gullickson, president, MGK, “Preparing Our Businesses for Future Success”
• Cindy Mannes, director, PPMA and vice president, public affairs, NPMA, “Marketing to the Masses: Tapping into the Buying Power of Four Generations”
• Dan Moreland, publisher, PCT Magazine, “What You Need to Know About the Rapidly Changing Face of the Pest Control Marketplace”

Inspect-All Technician Thwarts Potential Tragedy

CONYERS, Ga. — While performing a rodent inspection in an attic in late February, Inspect-All Services service technician Justin Clendening detected a strong natural gas odor.

Clendening immediately asked the customer to turn off the gas and contact her gas company.

Upon inspecting the customer’s home, a worker from the gas company confirmed the gas leak, and told the customer, “The gentleman in your attic today saved your lives,” an Inspect-All press release noted.

Overwhelmed and grateful, the customer could barely speak at times as she thanked Clendening and the Inspect-All management team, according to the press release.

PelGar Acquires AB Bait Company

ALTON, Hampshire, UK — PelGar International announced the acquisition of AB Bait, the sales and marketing group for Brigand rodenticides in the United States. The purchase was completed March 1. The North American business will operate under the PelGar USA brand and will bring the full support of PelGar International to the U.S. market.

Andrej Branc, president of AB Bait, will join PelGar as its North American business manager, immediately. “I am delighted to be part of this new venture,” Branc said. “Having the backing and support of PelGar International will allow the business to develop further in the region and bring new products to the North American market.”

Launched in 2010, Brigand rodenticides have established a foothold in the U.S. market. Based on the active ingredient bromadiolone, the wax blocks go through a unique casting process that enhances the palatability and stability of the block. As well as the block formulation, PelGar has brought to market a highly palatable soft bait made with lard and flour.

“Andrej has built up a very successful business in North America and we are delighted to have him on board the PelGar team,” said Gareth Capel-Williams, PelGar’s managing director. “Going forward Brigand rodenticides will be marketed under the PelGar USA brand which will further help to raise the company profile globally.”

Arrow Exterminators Creates Scholarship Program to Honor Crim

Atlanta — Arrow Exterminators announced a new scholarship program to honor E. Raymond Crim III, senior executive vice president, emeritus of Arrow Exterminators. Crim officially retired on Jan. 4, 2016, after devoting 44 years of his professional career to the industry, 25 of those with Arrow. The $5,000 scholarship fund was recently announced at the Georgia Pest Control Association’s Winter Conference.

Crim’s career in the pest control industry began when he served his country as a member of the armed forces in Vietnam, serving with the 20th Preventative Medicine Unit, specifically within the Mosquito Control and Research Division. His contributions to the pest control industry on a state and national level include past president and chairman of the board for the Georgia Pest Control Association (GPCA), PCT/Syngenta Crown Leadership Award, induction to the GPCA Hall of Fame and recipient of the GPCA Pioneer Award.

“While we are sad to see Ray go, we are honored that he has spent his career with Arrow and we are still reaping the benefits of his efforts today,” said Emily Thomas Kendrick, president and CEO for Arrow Exterminators. “He truly played an integral part in building the foundation here and his passion for the industry is known by all who have worked with Ray. We are very proud to announce the establishment of a scholarship program that will carry on the name of E. Raymond Crim III, and honor those that have served our country.”

Arrow Exterminators will fund this $5,000 scholarship annually and preferences will be given to applicants with military service.

Registration Open for the 2016 Integrated Tick Management Symposium

Washington, D.C. — Ticks that transmit Lyme disease and other pathogens are spreading geographically, with a 44.7 percent increase in the number of counties with these ticks present since 1998, according to a new study recently published by scientists at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the Journal of Medical Entomology. Human cases of Lyme disease, anaplasmosis and babesiosis also have increased both in number and geographical distribution in the eastern United States since surveillance and reporting began.

The CDC, the Entomological Society of America and the IPM Institute of North America are hosting the 2016 Integrated Tick Management Symposium, May 16-17, in Washington, D.C., in which speakers and attendees will:

1. Address the current status of the tick and tick-borne disease (TBD) problem and current practices for integrated tick management.
2. Detail the connection between integrated tick management, reducing tick populations and disease transmission.
3. Identify knowledge gaps and prioritize needs.
4. Identify existing and potentially impactful approaches, collaborations, and level of investment required to significantly reduce the burden of illness and public health impact of ticks and tick-borne diseases.
5. Summarize findings for informing various constituencies including government at all levels, funding agencies, the media, and the public about the impact of TBDs and possible solutions.
6. Participate in an optional visit to Capitol Hill to educate policymakers coordinated by the Entomological Society of America.

Attendees also will learn the latest science on effective prevention and intervention strategies to reduce tick-borne disease transmission.

Registration and hotel information are available at http://entsoc.org/ITMS.

Sponsors include the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Entomological Society of America, the North Central IPM Center and the IPM Institute of North America.

Terminix Names Top Termite Hot Spots

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Termites continue to gnaw at the minds of consumers in California, Texas and Florida, according to a ranking released last month by Terminix.

Notably, Los Angeles remains at the top of the list for the second year in a row, with the number of California cities jumping from four to five. Philadelphia rose by five spots, while Oklahoma City dropped three. The full list follows below.

This ranking was created by compiling termite-specific inbound lead data from more than 300 Terminix branches across the country. The rankings represent Metropolitan Statistical Areas with the highest volume of leads in 2015.

1. Los Angeles, Calif.
2. San Jose, Calif.
3. San Diego, Calif.
4. Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas
5. Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, Calif.
6. Miami, Fla.
7. Houston, Texas
8. Boston, Mass.
9. Atlanta, Ga.
10. Washington, D.C.
11. Philadelphia, Pa.
12. Sacramento, Calif.
13. Oklahoma City, Okla.
14. Tampa, Fla.
15. Detroit, Mich.
16. Denver, Colo.
17. St. Louis, Mo.
18. Kansas City, Mo.
19. San Antonio, Texas
20. New York, N.Y.

PMPs Attend BedBug University’s Boot Camp

LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. — From Arizona to Pennsylvania, pest management professionals from all over the country made the journey to Lawrenceville, N.J., to attend BedBug University’s Boot Camp Feb. 16-19.

Only held three times a year, the boot camp is an intensive four-day, hands-on training session that covers all aspects of bed bugs, including: biology, history, treatment and monitoring, focusing on BedBug Central‘s unique “NO PREP” approach. Additionally, the class covers all the business, legal and administrative challenges that are unique to bed bug treatments.

An additional benefit of BedBug University’s Boot Camp is the expedited approval process in becoming a bedbugFREE member.

BedBug University’s next boot camp will take place Aug. 9-12, 2016, at BedBug Central’s headquarters, located in Lawrenceville, N.J. Pest management professionals interested in attending can register and learn more on BedBug Central’s website, www.bedbugcentral.com.